"Practice with your shadow morphing for a while." Avella said, "Strengthen your endurance while we move."

"Shadow morphing?"

"The exercises I had you doing last night." Avella replied.

Nods and starts doing it. You are surprised at how fast he seems to learn.

"You are doing very well." Avella said enthusiastically, watching him work with his shadows, "Perhaps by the end of this week I can start your next lesson."

Nods molding the shadows into a unicorn, then a bear. He started to shift it over to something else but stopped, looking sad.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

Lanzer looked at her forcing a smile. "I...thought I would have forgotten by now.."

"Forgotten what?"

His shadows shimmer around him for a moment enhancing his trembling. "Dana.."

"Dana?" She prodded.

"She...was close to me.." Looks sad.

"What happened to her?" Avella asked uncertainly.

"She...might be dead. My brother claimed she left, he urged me to forget about her..."

"That's terrible." Avella mumbled.

"I just thought of her...perhaps he killed her."

"Perhaps, but I suppose you'll really never know..." Avella replied.

"I hope she is.."

"Mm..." Avella stopped near a small streambed and bent over it, opening one of her canteens and filling it with precious water.

Lanzer did the same.

Avella wiped a light sheen of sweat from her forehead and took several, long gulps of cool water.

Lanzer quietly took a drink too.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, looking over at him, "After practicing all this time?"

"Stronger."

She nodded, pleased.

He flashed a grateful smile.

"I believe that some lunch is in order..." Avella smiled.

He brought some rations out and helped her prepare the lunch.

After the meal was prepared and split between the two she ate her portion silently.

Questions filtered through Lanzer's mind, but he remained quiet as well.

"About ready to go?" She asked, cleaning the dishes after they'd finished.

Lanzer got up and picked up his pack. "Yes."

"Mmkay, keep up with your practicing, you're doing really well."

He started practicing obediently.

She smiled at him as they continued walking. But of course that was where the easygoing journey ended- that was also when they were attacked by a barrage of fireballs. Avella instinctively raised the shadows to shield both she and Lanzer.

Lanzer's shadows added to hers. He looked around wearily to so who their attackers were.

A pair of green eyes flashed, and Avella noted that the man who possessed them had hair as red as the flames that he'd attacked them with. Avella sent several of her shadows spiking towards them and he dodged them with a playful smirk on her lips. "I knew I'd find the little troublemaker." He said with a grin, "So we meet again, eh Avella?"

"...Villen." She growled.

Lanzer glared at the new comer. "Who the hell are you?"

"He works for your brother." Avella narrowed her eyes in his direction, "He was the first agent I met... the one who took my brother away."

Villen gave a mock bow, "Can we get on with it? I came to bring you both back to Master Satul."

Lanzer looked at him finally recognizing him. "GO TO HELL!" He attacked using his shadows.

"I'm so sorry that you feel that way." Villen said sarcastically, blasting Lanzer's shadows aside easily, "And doubly so that you have finally discovered your latent ability. Master Satul so hoped to keep you as a loyal pet..."

Lanzer staggered as his energy took from him. "I was ever the pet wasn't I?"

"Indeed, the faithful pup. But just think, Master Satul will be pleased with another mindless minion to throw into battle."

"Don't you dare say that!" Avella launched herself at him, drawing her sword as he whipped his out.

Lanzer became furious, one of his shadows whipped out towards  Villen, it sharpened to a spear and stabbed into his leg.

Villen glanced at Lanzer but paid the injured appendage no mind as he continued to spar with Avella.

Lanzer drew his sword and attacked with careful calculation.

"Come now, you can do better than this!" Villen threw several small knives at Lanzer, piercing him in several places.

A shadow launched at Villen riping his skin and causing numerous wounds. Lanzer staggered as the shadows took some more energy, he fought the pain of his wounds.

"Lanzer, don't do any more with your shadows for now or you'll severely damage your body." Avella said, slipping backwards as Villen launched more flames at her. She yelped in surprise as several pillars erupted behind her, burning both her arms, her side, and her right leg.

"You're still as weak as you were before." Villen laughed.

"Shut up!" Avella, despite stumbling, leapt back into action.

"How about this?" He pulled something small from a pouch near his hip and flung it at her.

Something stung in her neck, and she pulled out a small needle, "What is this?" She demanded, flinging it to the ground.

"Just a little something that'll block off your gift if only for the next few days." Villen grinned and lashed out at her with a renewed vigor, and she staggered to keep up, blocking most of his blows until finally she stabbed him in the side.

He grunted and leapt backwards, panting for breath, "I'll be back soon, this was only a little excursion for some amusement. Next time I'll be serious." He vanished.

Lanzer stumbled over to her. "My brother was right....I am weak." He passed out suddenly from his wounds and exhaustion.

"Lanzer!" She quickly laid him out and dug through her pack, giving a frustrated sigh as she found nothing medicine related- she was so used to being able to heal automatically... Silently she pulled out a shirt and began tearing it into strips, treating his wounds.

Kaya walked quietly through the woods, trying to figure out where the dear she was after went. She was dressed as a boy, and a casual onlooker would have thought she was. She stopped as she spotted Avella and Lanzer. She quietly approached keeping silent and hidden in the shadows.

She winced as her burns and other wounds throbbed, but she was bent upon helping Lanzer first.

Kaya walked up behind her, pulling out healing supplies.

Avella jumped slightly in surprise when she noticed Kaya.

Kaya quietly set about healing them. Her eyes darted about alert for traps and danger. Soon she had both bandaged, and their wounds treated.

"Thank you." Avella mumbled softly, "But why did you help us?"

Kaya shrugged as she packed up her stuff. *Looks like another night with no dinner* She thought with a sigh.

"That blasted Villen..." She rubbed where the vial had forced it's contents into her body, "Temporarily stripping me of my healing gift..."

Kaya looked at her curiously, but thought better then to ask. She turned to leave not sure where to go.

"Wait, please don't go." Avella said, "You shouldn't stay on your own, Satul might end up getting you to add you to his mindless army. What is your name?"

Kaya turned to face her hesitating. She walked over and wrote in the dirt: Kell. Who is Satul?

"Kell huh? Interesting name. Basically Satul is a dictator type of guy. He's seeking to control the world. Uh... Lanzer here is actually his twin brother, but Satul was just using him. Satul collects people like us- people with the gift and he forces them to join his cause."

"Kell" Looked thoughtful, and wrote: How do you know I have the gift?

"I can sense it... even without my gift." Avella said, slightly flustered.

Kaya looked worried. *What if she wants to use me?* She glances at a scar on her arm.

She touched a hand to her head tiredly, "I need to rest..." She glanced worriedly at Lanzer.

Kaya wrote: I will keep watch.
She sat down next to them keeping alert.
Lanzer shifted a little in his sleep.

Avella nodded gratefully and lay her head on her pack, drifting almost immediately into slumber.

Kaya watched, keeping alert. She rubbed her scar. She remembered how she had gotten it, the boy she thought had loved her betrayed her. She looked at the two sleeping peacefully. *Do I dare trust them?" She wondered. She was afraid of betrayal, she had known betrayal all her life, and yet it still hurt.

Avella whimpered softly in her sleep, dreams of forgotten memories shifting through her mind.

Kaya hesitated not sure if she should wake her or not.

Avella awoke a few minutes later, staring at the sky silently.

Lanzer stirred moaning in pain. "Avella?"
Kaya looked over at him uneasily.

Avella sat up immediately, "Are you alright?" She asked, her tone worried.

"I...think so. What about you?" He asked.

"I'll be fine." She replied simply.

A dark hooded man just shakes his head at the sceen. Foolish people. But I must admit they are a bit interesting. More interesting then my twin sister. He just watches from the shadow. After a few minuets he walks on.

Avella blinked when she sensed the man. ... who is that? She wondered to herself.

His hood falls down revealing red hair as he walks on. Oh blast that hood. They are interesting but I don't want them feeling like they should be my friend I just need to keep going.

"Hey!" Avella called, "Who are you, stranger?"

"THAT IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN GIRL!" Damn why couldn't that hood just behave and stayed over my hair.

"Hey, don't you go yelling at me!" She stood up, ignoring her body's protests, "I just asked a simply question!!"

"Fine..My name is Mastudo...I all ready know yours Avella. Now if you will excuse me I have to leave." Why can't things go like I plan at least once? Oh well just keep moving. Mastudo just keeps walking.

"How do you know my name? You're not a member of the organization, are you?" She asked suspiciously.

"As of now I belong to no one. I'm trying to get as far away from someone as I can." Damn curious girl why can't she just let me go Mastudo groans and keeps his pace.

She merely shrugged, "If you are really so insistant on leaving then go. I won't keep you." She said.

Mastudo just nods. "Nice meeting you Avella." He walks on in the distance.However he gets injuried.

"Are you alright?" Avella asked.

Mastudo lets out a shout of pain. "WHY!? IS FATE CONSPIRING AGAINST ME!"

She strode towards him, "It's your own fault you know... so focused on running away that you're not paying enough attention.

Mastudo glares. "Despite the fact you are right. I don't understand why you would care."

"It's just how I am." She shrugged.

Mastudo just sighs. "I see. I'm sorry for being rude before."

"It's fine. We all have our own ways with life." She replied simply.

Mastudo just nods.

"So, mind telling me who you're running from?"

"Moira...my twin."

"How come you're running from your twin?"

Mastudo grunts. "Rather not talk about it."

She shrugged, "As you wish."

Mastudo feels a little more at ease. "Shouldn't you get back to your compainions."

"I'm not too far away from either. One is resting, and the other I've only just met. He seems to be rather wary though."

Mastudo nods. "Ok if you don't mind being near this stick in the mud then who am I to shove you away."

She laughed softly, "You're no stick in the mud."

Mastudo shakes his head. Naive girl seriously. "You don't know much about me."

She simply shrugged, "I like to think that I can trust people. I also like to think that I am fully capable of defending myself if it turns out otherwise."

Mastudo shakes his head and manages to get up. "Hope that works out for you. I'm sure your compainons will be wondering where you are."

"If you still feel that you must leave I will not try to stop you. be wary of the organization and stay safe."

Mastudo allows a semi smile appear. "I don't think that is wise for me seeing as I have no idea what's what. Maybe I will travel with you for a little while."

"You're more than welcome to." Avella responded.

Mastudo just shrugs and walks back toward her comrades.

Lanzer watches him uneasily. Kaya looks at him too.

Mastudo just keeps his distance. He remains neutral with everything.

Kaya sits under a tree, growing uneasy by all the people.
Lanzer pulls himself up to a sitting position.

"This is Mastudo, he'll be joining us for a small while." Avella said, sitting down near Lanzer, "How do you feel?"

Mastudo just nods at everyone.

"Sore, as though my head were split open.." Lanzer replied.

Mastudo gives Avella something. "Here mix this with water should help with his pain."

Kaya quietly got to her feet, and headed into the woods.

"Kell, where are you going?" Avella called after her.

Kaya turned, her heart sinking. "I...don't belong." She replied. Lanzer studied her carefully.

"Don't say that. Everyone belongs somewhere." Avella responded, "I don't want you to feel as though you can't trust us for any reason."

Mastudo shakes his head. "I think you do belong..it is me that's the off card."

Kaya shakes her head quickly. "No..I always bring trouble. I shouldn't be with any of you. Besides..I am not sure if I can trust you.."

"Then we'll gain your trust. You do not have to worry, I will even allow you to hold all of my weapons. My gift was blocked off by Villen..." She pleaded.

Kaya hesitated not sure of herself. finally she sat next to her. "All right..."

"Anybody hungry?" Avella asked after a moment, "I've got some things in here somewhere that ought to do for a meal..."

Mastudo just shurgs.

Lanzer nods as he continues to stare at Kaya.
Kaya's stomach growled as she remembered her lack of food. "Yes." She said rubbing her stomach.

"Oh! I completely forgot about this stew..." She said, pulling out a decently sized pot with a lid fastened securely on it, "We only need a fire and then we can heat it up..."

Kaya stroked some dry twigs which suddenly started a fire.

Mastudo just keeps his distance.

Avella gathered some larger logs and added them to the flaming twigs, "Thanks," She said softly to Kaya, setting the pot over the flames to warm the stew.

Kaya nodded as she wrapped her badly burnt hands up in clean cloth. She had known what the price would be. Her father had told her.

Mastudo gives Kaya a rag of some kind. "Here this should help."

Avella stirred the stew silently, glancing at Kaya with worry, "Are you alright?"

Kaya nodded a thanks to Mastudo. "My....father had warned me about using that ability...he said it was dangerous."

"Before you truly learn how to control an ability it is dangerous." Avella replied, "You've got to train yourself not to do harm to your own body."

Mastudo smirks in amusement.

Kaya shakes her head, throwing a glare at Mastudo and Lanzer. "No. It's a curse...runs in the family." She whispered.

"You can be taught to control it." Avella replied, "I know a fair few of people who can help."

"NO! You aren't listening! It's a curse!" She yelled trying to make her understand.

Mastudo sighs at her outburst. "You can learn some control despite the curse."

Kaya calmed herself. "I know self control with my abilities."

Lanzer looks at Avella. "Can I speak to you in private?" He finally asked.

Avella nodded slowly, "Please watch the stew for me..." She said softly.

Kaya stirred the stew as Lanzer stumbled a safe distance away, to give them privacy.

Mastudo just looks out in the woods.

Avella followed Lanzer curiously, "What's up?" She asked.

"Where did Kell come from?" He asked.

"I don't know, why?" She asked, "He helped me to treat you though..."

"You mean.....she." He said looking uneasy.

"She?" Avella blinked, "I knew there was something strange..."

"Her name is Kaya. She was nicknamed Disaster...things happen around her. she ran away, after her parents' deaths."

"How do you know this?" Avella asked.

He sighed and watched Kaya stir the pot. "I...was named her godfather..her father was my best friend." Looks sad. "My brother tried to control her, but she ran."

"I think that she's frightened." Avella said.

"Should we pretend we don't know? I don't want to frighten her off." He said watching her.

"I think that it would be best for now." Avella said, "She's so uneasy around us right now..."

He nodded and headed back.

Kaya watched them wondering what they had spoken of.

Mastudo just leaned against a tree.

"Stew is done." Kaya said.

Mastudo wonders over and waits for everyone else to go ahead.

Kaya walks over to a small tree that looks like it is dying. She hides what she is doing, but heals her hands using it's life force. She fought back the guilt, as she always felt when she was forced to take life.

Avella split the portions between four bowls, "Here we go, more than enough for the four of us..." She said with a smile.


Kaya sat down quietly, taking her bowl and eating.
Lanzer took his with a smile. "Thank you."

Mastudo gets his meal and eats silently.

Avella ate slowly, not really hungry, but knowing that she needed to eat nonetheless.

Kaya glanced guiltily at the now withered tree, she sat her half eaten bowl of stew down, loosing her appetite. 

Lanzer saw her glance and hid his surprise.

Mastudo just observes them as he finishes eating.

Lanzer looks towards him. "So what is your story?"

Mastudo looks at him with a neutral face. "Sorry I don't feel like story telling."

"If we are to trust one another I would like to know a little about you."

Mastudo rolls his eyes. "I ran away from home. My overbearing sister would not leave me alone"

"I see." He said as Kaya looked at him strangely.

Mastudo shakes his head. "I studied a lot so I know a lot of information.."

Kaya looked at him. "I don't trust you."

Mastudo shrugs. "I'm not going to be travling very long with you."

Lanzer cocked a brow at that. "Where are you going than?"

"You shouldn't worry about that. I'm going to see family"

Lanzer fell silence, deep in thought. Kaya looked at him feeling a little guilty that she said anything.

Mastudo leaves them to their thoughts.

Avella finished her meal and stood up silently, "We should continue on our way. I have no doubts that we might be persued and even caught if we remain here much longer."

Lanzer nodded and got his stuff together, as Kaya gathered her supplies.

"Are we ready?"

Avella nodded as she strapped her bags over her shoulders.

Lanzer looked around the camp to make sure he hadn't left anything.
Kaya walked over to Avella.

Avella stretched, adjusting the straps of her bags, "There..." She sighed.

Mastudo just shakes his head and walks over keeping a major distance.
I just need to travel a little while with this bunch.

"Hope you're all ready for a rather lengthy journey." Avella said, smiling at them.

Mastudo shrugs. "I make it my practice to be ready..but thank you for your minor concern."

"Good." Avella smiled.

Kaya nodded as she followed them cautiously.

Lanzer shouldered his pack and nodded to them.

Mastudo is not really impressed with this bunch. My idotic sister would love to be with these mistfits.

Avella nodded, "Alright, let's head out then."

Kaya stopped and stared at Mastudo in shock and surprise. "Misfits?" did he say that or am I somehow hearing his thoughts? Kaya wondered.

Lanzer frowned. "What do you mean Kay?"
Kaya shook her head still staring at Mastudo. "What is your "idiotic" sister like?"

Avella blinked and looked between Kaya and Mastudo silently.

Mastudo eyes Kaya with a stoic appearence and lets his pale lips form into a smirk. "She is overly happy and is an insurrable know-it-all." He gives a polite nod at Avella.

Kay bit her lip frowning at Mustudo. She stepped away from him as though trying to get away from something she found unpleasant.

Lanzer watched all the preceding with a frown.

Avella frowned also, looking between Kay and Mastudo before shaking her head, "Alright, let's get going..." She said after a moment.

Lanzer nodded and took the lead.

Avella stretched and gazed up at the sky, "It's going to rain tonight..." She murmured, pointing to the distant rainclouds on the horizon.

Walking up, Aedin said sighing, "great I'm lost again i'm never gonna get my assignment done like this."
Walking over to a group of people, Aedin asked, "hey have you seen this girl" *shows a pick of Avella* "nevermind i see her" he added walking over to her saying, "I'm from the organization if you refuse to come with me i have been ordered to kill you....." just come i hate getting messy he thought to himself.

"Tch, organization scum." Avella spat, "Like I'd ever go anywhere willingly with the likes of you."

"Very well then you leave me no choice then" Aeidin said sighing putting a pair of gloves on with long wires attached to the ends while pushing the others away with his telekinesis.

"..." Avella shook her head and took up a defensive stance, "You're leaving me no choice either." She replied coldly.

After he had gotten his gloves on, Aedin pulled out ten Kunai from his pouch and held fie in each hand saying, "shall we begin..."

Avella drew out her sword from its sheath, "Go right on ahead," She said in a low voice.

As she drew her sword, Aedin lashed out his wires around both her sword and all of her extremities, "don't fight the wires only cut deeper and you can't cut through them with your sword try and it will only shatter...."

"Oh? You obviously have no idea who you're dealing with." A dim glow entered Avella's eyes and she vanished, the wires falling uselessly to the ground as she faded back into being several feet away.

"Please do you think i would have come after you without knowing what you are capable of that's the whole reason the sent me" Aedin said now standing behind her and attempting to drie two kunai deeply into her back. "i read your thoughts before you acted you can't move without me knowing first..."

"Oh really? Thanks for the heads up," Avella laughed, "Because I can shield my thoughts from you now, you'd destroy your own mind trying to get into my head," She vanished again, reappearing directly behind him, her sword pressed to his throat threateningly.

A kunai flew through what seemed to be his body and strait for Avella while Aedin stated sadistically, "that was an illusion planted into your mind..." as he attached the remaining kunai to his wires and disappeared.

Avella shook her head, "Troublesome bastard..." She muttered to herself, dodging the kunai and settling herself back down into a defensive position, waiting for him to show up again.

Speaking as if circling her, Aedin said laughing a little, "your little tricks will not work on me barriers are useless against me and your magic is like that of a child from what i've seen in your head." After his echoes cleared illusions and real kunai started flying at her from every conceivable angle.

A barrier of shadows flitted up over Avella's body, and instead of dodging any of the kunai, she merely stood there. The real ones bounced uselessly off of her barrier, "Everyone..." She called to her friends, "Get as far away from here as you can!" She was planning on using it, Azure ravién Kaiji... the gate of death.

"Don't force me to do this i don't like being messy but if you do not surrender i will be forced to use the full extent of my powers" Aedin said before beginning a spell of his own within her own head. "I will use your own powers to destroy you if you do not submit...."

"That I will not allow you to do." Avella said darkly, her eyes fading to a deep violet color.

She brought her hands together and closed her eyes, allowing energy to crackle wickedly about her still form for the second time in just a few days.

"Ah so you've decided to use the Gate of Death eh that skill is the whole reason the organization wants you and they sent me because i'm a whole different calliber" Aedin said appearing infront of her and mimicing everything she was doing preparing to copy the spell as well.

"It's not a spell," Avella smirked, "And not something that you can copy either, no matter how well you mimick my motions." She watched as her friends quickly stepped away. Sweat broke out on her forehead as a thin line crackled into existance between herself and Aedin.

Mastudo just keeps his distance and he accidently steped on a stick. Shessh she seems to be overly confident and chipper like my sister...what a drag.

"I know but once you've started......" Aedin said disappearing and reappearing behind her with a kunai in each hand, "you can't really move or risk being injured further. And if you die before you close it it will destroy everything here" he added before trying to stab deeply in each side.

"You think that I am open to attack when I perform this, that is your flaw." Avella said, her voice almost hypnotic as several gashes opened up on her cheeks, "The only thing that can wound me now is the gate." Electrical energy pulsed out from her body, sending powerful currents up the steel blades of the kunai and into Aedin's body.

Lanzer slashed at Aedin with his shadow magic. "I am second in command of the organization and I say you have the wrong
girl!" He snarled.

Kaya whimpered slightly and started to mutter furiously to herself.

Glaring back, Aedin shouted to Lanzer, "My orders come from higher than you moron back off or i will be forced to kill you to." Pissed that he got hit and shocked, Aedin threw Lanzer infront of him and removed the gloves with the wires to prevent any more electrical shocks, "Screw this i will come back for you later.....more prepared.." he screamed as he disappeared into the shadows.

Several hundred yards from his mark now, Aedin walked ranting out loud, "WHo does he think he is getting in the way of my orders i should have killed him and then gotten back to waht i was doing. But if i had have done that then i wouldn't have had the strengh left to kill her as well.....damn"

Avella sank to her knees, cutting of the magic of her ability. For several minutes she simply watched where Aedin had vanished in case he returned again.

Wondering around, not wanting to lose his mark again, Aedin circles the perimeter looking for a way back in without being noticed by that annoying brat from the organization.

"Damn i can't get through her gate of death and Satuls brother....I'll retreat back to base for now" Aedin said jumping into the tree's and disappearing into the night.
Coming back to there base, he stormed in screaming, "Satul I need to talk to you!!"

Satul gave him a dark look, "What is the problem?" He asked simply.

"YOUR BROTHER" Aedin shouted angrily, "he got in the way of my mission to recapture this girl" he said holding up a picture of Avella.

"My brother?" Satul shook his head disbelieving, "He is the vice president of this organization, he wouldn't do anything stupid."

"HE ATTACKED ME" Aedin screamed, "I was fighting her and trying to figure out a way to get around that gate of death of hers and he attacked me..."

"He probably saved your ass." Satul replied calmly, Lanzer wouldn't betray him for some gifted brat...

"He was trying to trick me into thinking i had the wrong girl" Aedin said calming down some now, "and i was sent personally because of my skill even though she tried to use the gate before hand she hadn't touched me and she opened it for and illusion so i was fine he saw through it and attacked me.."

"Until you can bring me solid proof of anything, I refuse to believe that my brother would do anything against me." Satul responded calmly.

"Well come with me then I am going to need help getting past him anyway..." Aedin said, "But i need to go by the armory i dropped my gloves when i retreated........"

"I can't go," Satul responded, "I'm quite busy here, however-" Here he gained a smirk, "Find Atsuki and take him with you. He's usually hanging around the armory, should be easily recognizable, resembles the girl in appearance."

"Very well" Aedin said walking to the armory, hard ass when it bites you in the ass your brother betrayed you....

Walking to the armory, Aedin started callin out, "Atsuki, Atsuki, ATSUKI!! where are you...."

A small knife buried itself in the wall in front of Aedin and an irritated voice called out, "Oi, who the hell are you and why are you yelling my name so loudly?"

"We have a mission and you are my partner now orders come strait from Satul" Aedin said getting another pair of his wired gloves from the armory. "Ok Lets go i'm ready..."

"Where too?" Atsuki questioned with a sigh.

"After....Avella..." Aedin said sighing as well.

"Avella?" Atsuki blinked in confusion then, "Ah! The girl that escaped this place recently, eh? Caused quit an uproar here..."

"Yeah i went after her alone but I ran into some.....complications...." Aedin said walking out of the armory.

"I see." Atsuki replied simply, "Lead the way then I suppose so we can get this over with."

"She is still not that far from here we can get back to her and recapture her today if we leave now..." Aedin said rewiring his gloves.

"As I said a moment ago, let's go then." Atsuki replied simply, loosening his sword in its sheathe for easier access later on.

"I'm ready now" Aedin said walking out of the main door.

---

Lanzer hugged Avella, trembling slightly in fury. "we need to move! They don't give up so easily. We need to be gone quickly before they come back. Avella..do you have a spell to make us all look different?"

"It's going to take the last of my energy, but I do." Avella replied, "And it should last either until I undo the spell, or... in the offchance that I die." Avella replied, drawing her hands together and closing her eyes.

A dim glow surrounded the group and their appearances drastically changed, "I think... it would be best to use different names as well, and not use our powers for a while."

Lanzer nodded and gently supported her. "Should I carry you?"

Kaya looked at the others in surprise.

"I think... I wouldn't mind a short nap..." Avella said slowly, struggling to speak as clearly as she could.

Lanzer gently picked her up and tenderly layed her head on his shoulder. "Than sleep now." He lead the way intent on finding a safe place for them to rest.

"Mm..." Avella had drifted off into a warm darkness before her head had even touched to his shoulder.

He smiles a little tenderly before continuing on.

As it neared nightfall they made camp in the ruins of an old cabin. Kaya made a makeshift bed for Avella, whick Lanzer gently laid her on.
He than made beds for himself, Kaya and Mustudo. "I will take first watch." He said as he sat down next to where Avella slept.
Kaya fixed them some cold rations and they all ate. Lanzer put some to the side for when Avella woke up.

Tracking the girl back from where they had first met, Aedin silently walked around the abandoned cabin where they were hiding for the night, Atsuki i have found her he said silently.

Lanzer itched to improve his abilities but he remembered what Avella had said. During the course of them reaching the cabin he had decided to change his name to Laslian, Kaya had decided to go with the name Adam.

Atsuki came up near Aedin, "In this old cabin?" He asked.

Aedin wrapped his wires around the cabin getting ready to turn it to rubble.

Lanzer stiffened feeling uneasy. He silently woke his companions, and picked Avella up. He motioned for them to catiously leave, as he gathered the cloaks up.

"Damn Atsuki now" Aedin said crushing the cabin with his wires while everyone was still in it.

Atsuki drew his sword, and waited for anyone to appear outside of the cabin, "You are quick and careless in your attacks." He said to Aedin.

"yeah but they are trying to escape so I acted..." Aedin said throwing the rubble aside to uncover everyone they were after.

"We could have followed after them... perhaps gotten a more ideal trap set up." Atsuki replied.

"This works fine if they are alive still they are unconcious..." Aedin said drawing a few of his kunai.

Before the cabin colapsed Lanzer quickly shoverd everyone into a sheltered corner. he hoped it would help protect them, he got clipped in the side by falling rubble and bit back his hiss of pain. He was sure something was broken.

Avella awoke slowly, crawling to her feet, she noticed two people standing near the building, "W-who are you?" She feigned fear and shock at the fact that the building had collapsed.

"See i told you he had betrayed us, he is protecting them. Maybe Satul will believe you" Aedin said disappearing then reappearing behind Avella saying coldly, "come with us or die...."

"He?" Atsuki shook his head as he pointed at Lanzer, "That is not Satul's brother, look closer..."

"Why would I go with people that I don't know?" Avella questiooned, quenching the anger that boiled within her.

Lanzer stumbled to his feat looking fearful. "Leave my wife alone!" He gasped as pain ripped through his side, it was evident he had a few broken ribs. "My name is Laslain. That's my wife Rose! Leave her alone!"

"comone Atsuki they must have left before we got here...." Aedin said slightly embarrased releasing the girl and jumping beside Atsuki.

Lanzer walked over to Avella, careful of his side. "Who the hell do you think you are? You destroy our shelter, and harass my wife, and now you realize you made a mistake?!"

"Shut up i have no problems killing you where you stand now be greatefull I haven't already and retreat with your lives" Aedin snapped throwing some money, "here get your wounds treated and leave before i change my mind....."

"Laslain, let's go..." Avella murmured, slipping away from Aedin and over to where Mastudo and Kaya were.

"Well Atsuki you were right i was....too hasty" Aedin said starting to walk away wondering, something isn't right i peeked in the girls head and it was the same as the other i fought just hours ago.....

Lanzer picked up the money and carefully walked to his companions. His side felt like it was on fire, and he feared that the damage was worse than he thought. Kaya sat next to Mastudo looking a little dazed. "He's asleep.."

"Are you okay?" Avella asked Lanzer, placing a hand on his shoulder worriedly as she looked over at Aedin and the other man, hoping that their disguises would hold for a while longer. The other man looked very familiar to her, but from the distance that she was away she couldn't really tell who he was.

"We'll find her," Atsuki replied with a simple shrug, still standing in the same spot and gazing at the four people silently.

"Rose I need your help with Markus." Lanzer said looking at Mastudo. "I think a few ribs are broken.." He whispered, wincing in pain. He felt weeker.

"Don't strain yourself," Avella said quietly, "I don't want you to be hurt further..."

"I will try not to.." I can't tell her how bad it it..I made need medical treatment..I think I'm bleeding internally..can't tell her that.. Lanzer started to stumble but managed to catch himself, he had nearly blacked out, and he was feeling ill.

"Sit down and rest," Avella pleaded with him, "I can tell you're in pain."

Before he could reply he collapsed into darkness.

Kaya cried out trying to catch him, but staggered under his wieght.

"Laslain!" Avella exclaimed in worry, just barely able to refrain from calling him Lanzer as she helped Kaya gently lower him to the ground, "I'm gonna go give that guy a piece of my mind..." She glowered, standing, "Keep an eye on him..."

"B..but what if they hurt you too?"

"They've no reason too right now," Avella replied simply.

Kaya nodded still looking fearful.

"Hey!" Avella called to Aedin and the man he was with, her anger finally boiling up within her, "Because of you Laslain's been hurt pretty badly!"

Twitching his finger, Aedin wrapped one of his wires around the girls throat shouting, "shut it before i take it" before glaring at the others reading there minds to see what they were hiding.

Avella ripped the wire away from her throat, "You've no right to-" Her eyes widened in shock when Atsuki turned and her words trailed off.

"Atsuki, do you know this woman or should i just kill her and be done with it" Aedin said out of aggrivation.

"No, I don't know her." Atsuki replied, turning to walk away.

Avella grabbed his arm, "I thought you were dead!" Tears were swimming in her eyes and her hand fell to herside when he peeled it off of his arm like some detestable insect.

"THIS IS AVELLA" Aedin said smiling "she was your sister. I'm suprised you don't remember her but she just blew all of there cover and that would be Lanzer with the broken ribs i am guessing......"

"No... he never was Lanzer," Avella replied, "That man truly is Laslain... I had... disguised him to look like that man to escape before." Avella looked back at her friends, she closed her eyes, dispelling the magic on all but Lanzer (though this in itself was not noticable in any way). "Brother... I don't know why you don't seem to recognize me."

"Brother? I am no one's brother." Atsuki responded coldly.

"Dumb ass you can't mask his mind" Aedin said grinning sadistically. "Well now what should we do unfortunately you are in charge..."

"Take the girl, she is the target after all, is she not?" Atsuki replied.

What is wrong with my brother... Avella wondered to herself, biting her lip, "And by the way, it has nothing to do with me masking his mind... by giving him a new form I gave him memories to go with it, they still haven't dissipated yet."

"Well if you were still hiding him why did you just tell me what you did" Aedin said appearing behind her binding her with his wires and atempting to block her powers as well.

Avella's eyes faded into black, and wings burst forth from her spine, knocking Aedin and his wires away from her before they folded easily back into the flesh of her back. She glared at him, I didn't have time to really regenerate my magic... This is going to be difficult...

"Atsuki do you need my assistance with this one" Aedin said annoyed slightly. "This is going to be fun...."

"You can interfere if you wish, just do not get in my way." Atsuki responded, turning his sword towards Avella.

Avella quickly drew her own. She would block his attacks but... she would not hurt him, couldn't hurt him...

"Very well i will deal with the others......." Aedin said smiling and rewiring his gloves preparing to just kill them all but Lanzer, "And i am going to bring Lanzer back to answer to his brother....."

"How many times do I have to say that that isn't Lanzer?" Avella growled, standing between him and the other three, an uncertain look in her eyes, "Listen... I'll go willingly if you just leave them all alone..." She said quietly. I'm sorry Laslain... She thought.

"Those are the orders" Aedin said sighing, Atsuki i know that is him should i wait a while longer hidden to be sure or just drop it for now....

Just drop it, even if that is Lanzer, he'll undoubtably die soon... he was injured with the cabin collapsed and has some internal bleeding. Atsuki replied.

"Very well" Aedin said, even if he doesn't die he will come after her again and i will get him then.....

Indeed. Atsuki agreed, Now lets go.

"Come on now i don't want to have to hack anything off" Aedin said to Avella smiling.

Avella scowled at him, "Try it and I'll personally have the enjoyment of taking your life." She muttered, beginning to walk nonetheless.

"I wasn't talking about off of you...." Aedin said smiling looking back to her friends, " now if you don't want me to kill them shut up and follow Atsuki...."

"Again I say... try it and I'll kill you." Avella replied again coldly.

"Atsuki i will catch up later i trust you can take care of yourself with her" Aedin said disappearing into the shadows with an evil grin on his face.

Avella stopped and glared at the place that he had abandoned, "You'd best leave them all alone..." She said, clenching her hands into fists as Atsuki made her walk faster.

Crap Atsuki am i disobeying orders going back for him, Satul did tell me to bring proof of my accusations.....or should i just meet you at the base Aedin said to Atsuki.

Avella watched the flicker of thought that passed over Atsuki's face and realized that he and Aedin were communicating. "That bastard, I know he's trying to do something!" She ground out, running back towards the fallen cabin, using up most of what remained of her magic by sliding into the shadows and reappearing near her friends. I won't let him...

"Why is she back you were supposed to watch her" Aedin said to Atsuki before wrapping her in his wires again, "I haven't done anything to them i am waiting for orders first now go back like a good little girl before I cut you to ribbons."

Atsuki made his way over to them, "Had me mildly surprised is all." He replied, "I didn't know anyone else could travel through the shadows."

"I don't care what you're waiting for. Leave them all alone."
Avella replied coldly.

"Well what should i do technically it is an order to bring proof isn't it.." Aedin said detaching his wires and handing them to Atsuki, "Just pull if she gets to be too much of a nuisance and they will slice her to peices....." 

"You leave Laslain alone!" Avella burst out, "He has nothing to do with you!"

"Will you shut up i'm not talking to you" Aedin said putting enough pressure on her brain to make her pass out.

Avella fought against the pressure, "I don't care who you're talking too! Don't bother them any more..."

"Damn this girl is ressilaint" Aedin said leaning down to bite her, "if that won't do it blood loss will and i haven't fed in days either......"

Avella struck her fist up against his jaw and leapt backwards, slackening the wires around her slightly. "Don't you dare!" She ground out, "Just leave them alone..."

"I am trying to do this gently but if you keep refusing i will go to the hard way..." Aedin snapped back rubbing his jaw.

"Try me." Avella drew her sword, ignoring the wires that attempted to hamper her movements.

"You annoying little wench" Aedin said appearing infront of her and throwing her sword behind him sticking it deeply in a tree, "fine how is this" he added grabbing her by her throat bearing his fangs for the first time in years before headbutting her violently.

Avella groaned, but couldn't help striking him with her fist again and stumbling backwards, "Don't call me annoying!" She ground out in anger.

"I am going to kill this annoying little bitch if she doesn't shut the hell up" Aedin said pulling one of the wires left on his glove tightly around her throat "ONE more move and i will hack your damn head off and be through with you!"

"There's no need for that," Atsuki said, "She's nearing her body's limits as it is."

Avella turned her heated gaze slightly towards Atsuki, a feeling of betrayal roiling around in the pit of her stomach, "Don't think that you'll be rid of me that easily," Avella snarled, pulling several small knives from her pocket and throwing them at Aedin, she swayed slightly on her feet, but kept stubbornly upright.

"Please in this state you couldn't hope to hit me" Aedin said catching one and throwing it back cutting her arm slightly, while walking to her and licked the blood from the wound, " She really tastes good too....."

Avella yanked her arm away in disgust, scowling at him, "Waiting for you to make a foolish move like that." She said, plunging another knife into his shoulder up to the hilt.

"that's not me i used this trick before you would think you would have seen it coming but trying to treat me like that it's just shameful" Aedin said standing on the other side of her as the image disipated and she was left holding a dagger in mid air. "Enough of this Charade though you are really starting to bore me.." he added driving his claws into her side and licking the blood that was left on them, "You really do taste good though..."

Avella winced and lashed out with the dagger again, "Charade? You're the only one charading." She ground out.

"You know you really are slowing down though" Aedin said from her otherside now just grazing her with his claws this time, "You will pass out from bloodloss eventually and the more you fight the quicker it comes......"

"Stop fooling around," Avella growled, the shadows beginning to dance around her as her anger grew.

"Wouldn't try that if i were you i would just use the same attack from your magic draining you further and your nearly out of strengh now just be a good little girl and shut up that is all i want...." Aedin said starting to draw from her powers surrounding her with shadows snuffing out her own attack.

Avella stumbled again, but she wasn't willing to give up. She refused to give up, however difficult it would be.

"So i see you have finally realized your efforts are futile even if you were able to injure me you wouldn't have the strengh left to touch him and considering you haven't even scratched me yet i'd say that is a big if" Aedin said laughing.

"I don't care what you say," her vision was beginning to blur, but she ignored it.

"Very well" Aedin said still laughing before appearing infront of her headbutting her again before disappearing again.

Avella groaned and pressed a hand to her head, stumbling several steps backwards, "B-bastard!"

"Enough of this game" Aedin said reappearing infront of her and punching her strait in her face. "Now just pass out already" he said standing out of reach again.

An inky black crawled over the whites of her eyes and she faded into the shadows, coming up behind Aedin. She pressed a blade into the small of his back, drawing a little bit of blood, "Now you di-" The black faded from her eyes and she slumped forward soundlessly.

"Its about damn time" Aedin said pulling the dagger from his back and throwing the girl to Atsuki saying, "Now that that little fiasco is over lets get back to base this has taken way too long Satul is bound to be gettin empatient......"

Atsuki caught her easily and draped her over his shoulder, "What, didn't want to carry her?" He said sarcastically, starting to walk away.

"No not really if i do anything else with her i am going to kill her...." Aedin said licking the blood from the dagger then throwing it behind him laughing.

Atsuki shook his head, "Fine, let's just get back then." He muttered.

"Yeah i don't want to get on Satuls bad side" Aedin said smiling still.
Finally getting back to base, Aedin said, "Alright Satul where are you!"

Satul emerged from a darkened room at the call, "Ah, so I see you've finally succeeded." He said with a dark grin.

"Yeah she is protecting your brother so i couldn't find him as well have you seen him...." Aedin said standing aside for Atsuki to come up.

"He left me a note before he left." Satul said, "Saying that he was out on a mission and wouldn't be back for a while."

"Here," Atsuki tossed Avella's uncoscious form to the floor at Satul's feet and walked away.

"Very well is there anything else you need me to do...." Aedin said sighing. he still doesn't believe me but his brother has betrayed him and i will prove it.....somehow

"Take her down, lock her in one of the special holding rooms." Satul replied with a shrug.

"Ok" Aedin said picking the girl up and taking her downstairs.

Satul moved up the stairs, and back into his expansive study. He sat down and began writing.

"Atsuki what are the special holding room's" Aedin said carrying the girl down to where most the holding cells were.

They're close to where the normal cells are, the only difference are the chains on the wall... You bind someone there and their magic will be absorbed from their body while they are chained so that they cannot escape using it. It helps with some of the more... difficult gifted. Atsuki replied boredly, Honestly, you should know that.

" Don't chastize me like a child we are equals here don't forget it" Aedin said walking in to the cell chaining her down.

Avella began to stir, she groaned and opened her eyes. When she realized that she was chained she began to struggle against the bonds.

"Don't bother these bind all of your gifts there is no use, here you are like a helpless child" Aedin said walking out locking the door behind him. Atsuki are you anywhere near

Avella glared at the locked door, then turned her exhausted gaze to the chains that bound her worriedly.

I'm in the cafeteria. Atsuki replied simply, We left before I'd had the chance to eat anything.

"Haha well i am waiting here for a while just incase her friends show up to try and take her again when you get finished stay near if you don't mind that way i have assistance if its needed. Aedin said laughing slightly hidden in the shadows near her cell.

Avella, after nearly twenty minutes of failt attempts and chaffing, pulled one of her hands loose from the cuff. She bit back a cry of pain and drew the arm close to her, hovering, still near unconscious as she was still quite drained of magic, she felt a small burst of energy in her free hand.

Biting her lip she held onto the other cuff and yanked her hand free. Blood welled up from her wrist as it caught against the metal and she collapsed weakly to the ground.

Walking back into her cell, Aedin said laughing, "I figured you would have your freinds come get you but i didn't see this" Before recuffing her hand and squeezing it to where it fit even tighter aruond her wrist and doing the other arm the same. "Get out now" he added laughing.

Avella glared, scowling at him and ignoring the blood that seeped from the wound in her wrist as she continued to struggle against the chains.

"Atsuki it seems i might need you these chains are not going to hold her even though i bent them to fit her wrists" Aedin said silently.

What, can't handle a powerless child on your own? Atsuki laughed distantly.

Avella folded her hands vertically and pulled them free of the chains for the second time, "What you... don't seem to understand..." She panted, "Is that... I refuse to remain bound... by those foul things.

She moved, weaving slightly back and forth, towards Aedin, her mouth still tugged down into a scowl as she attempted to keep her vision focused.

"Eh not unless you want me to kill her..." Aedin said binding her wrist again bending the cuffs so tightly that they cut into the skin, "now they will cut your hands off if you keep resisting you said you would come if i didn't kill your freinds now keep to your word i did.....for now atleast..."

"Don't think that I am a fool," Avella said slowly, her words rather thick on her tongue, "I know that you're not going to keep your word for too long..."

"Only if i am ordered to take them or if they try to rescue you again" Aedin said laughing at her futile resistance.

"You're a liar! If you touch any of them I'll find and kill you!" She was growing pale.

"don't make threats you can't keep...." Aedin said smiling, "and i won't kill them unless i am ordered to or they get in my way..." Atsuki are you coming or not...

Later, maybe. Atsuki's tone was bored.

"I'll keep that promise even if I die in the process." Avella said coldly, her vision now swimming dizzily before her.

"Do shut up now..." Aedin said leaving her cell, "try to break free again and i will kill you then your friends remember that when you wake back up....."

"Leave them... alone," Avella was weak, not from the lack of magic, but from the loss of blood from her wrist, It doesn't matter if I die... so long as they are safe... Darkness swam at the edges of her vision now.

"Actually your life is of value you will make a fine soldier for us..." Aedin said from outside her cell.

"So you think." Avella spat, Haha... too bad it's bleeding away then... now isn't... it She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer.

"yeah it really is but don't worry once you are not so much of a nuisance then someone will treat that..." Aedin said smiling.

Avella didn't respond, though she had yet to slip into unconsciousness her mind and her lips just refused to form words. Her wounds were fluctuating between burning and becoming quite numb.

Atsuki she finally passed out so i am leaving for a while keep a sentry down here just incase her friends come....i need a break... Aedin said walking away with a devilish grin on his face.

I'll come down for a while I suppose... Atsuki sighed and made his way to one of the elevators.

By the way she is bleeding to death in there you might want to do something about that Aedin replied laughing while he left the base.

Don't stray too far, you may be needed on a mission soon. Atsuki sighed and moved over to the door that led into Avella's cell. He opened it and strode across the room quickly.

With a frown he tugged the broken cuffs loose and cursed as fresh bouts of blood flooded to the surface of her wounds. Silently he lifted her and headed back out the door, "Bro-ther..." She whispered, nestling him. He ignored the act and entered the medical wing, "Take care of her injuries." He said, "And I believe that she may need a blood transfusion."

He set her carefully on a metal table and as he moved to walk away she grasped his hand tightly, a motion that seemed oddly familiar to him. Atsuki stood there, dazed for a moment, before shaking his hand free of her grasp and moving to sit in a corner of the room.

You know how to get me if i am needed.... Aedin said rummaging through the forest, i'm going....hunting....

"Ooh i forgot something i need to tell Satul she was with more of the gifted.... Aedin said to Atsuki
Satul i forgot to tell you, the girl was with others with gifts of there own we didn't capture them as well because it wasn't the orders do you want us to now.....

If they were with her, perhaps they'll come and try to rescue her. Satul responded, Don't get impatient... Wait for them to come here.

you don't let me have any fun do you.... Aedin replied to Satul sarcastically. Well from what i can tell two of them are wounded seriously so if we went now they would be easy pickings

But that wouldn't be any fun at all. Satul responded with a dark chuckle.

The girl actually i looked into her mind and she is strong the other two were weaklings but atleast one of them had the gift as well i want to take on that girl though....Aedin said with a sadistic laugh.

Later, perhaps. Satul chuckled, You will have your fun...

Very well i will wait for now then... Aedin responded still laughing, but i am still going hunting i need a little blood on my hands..

I have found them Aedin said to satul, they are with a healer with a forseeing gift, i want his head but he will taste so bad eugh....I am hiding outside the hut they are all in dont worry though i wont kill the others just trail them...

Seer, eh? Satul laughed, When he is alone... get as much information off of him as you can.

I have already gotten all i needed he has told them that if they don't come after the girl you will win..... Aedin said laughing alittle accidentally giving away his postion, I'm coming back they know I am here now....i laughed he added embarrased slightly.

That child is the key to my victory? Satul laughed, Then I'd best get started with her conversion, now shouldn't I?"

<i>I will delay her friends before retreating then and kill the seer Aedin said jumping from his perch in the nearby tree.

---

Kaya trembled sadly, feeling useless. She took some energy from the earth and tried to heal Lanzer with it. "please..please be all right Avella.."

Kaya checked on Mastudo hoping he would wake. She had been a loner for so long, and now she knew she needed help. Lanzer was dying, and she could only stall his death, he needed a real healer, someone that could heal him completely. But she didn't know where one was, let alone how to get to unconcious men there.

A young man approached Kaya slowly, "Your friends are hurt... if you'll allow me, I've got a hut nearby that you can bring them too... My master is a healer... he can help them I'm sure."

Kaya bit her lip praying she could trust him, seeing no alternative and knowing Lanzer was running out of time she nodded. "I can't carry them..but I could drag Mastudo.."

"That's fine, I'll carry the other." The man said softly, lifting him into the air, "Are you ready to go then?"

"Yes." Kaya carefully dragged Mastudo, following the stranger. Please let him be a friend..please don't let this be a trap.

The man led her to a small hut that was aglow with a pale but welcoming light, an older man came outside then, "Did you go where I asked?" He questioned the man.

"I did master, and indeed there were two injured... but the other that you mentioned was not there."

"Then they've taken her?" The older man asked in horror.

"Yes." He said, bending his head in apology, "I couldn't get there in time..."

"This isn't good..." He muttered, "bring them inside."

Kaya gently sat Mastudo down in a corner. "Y..you know about Avella? He is bleeding inside..I can't heal him completely.." She said pointing to Lanzer.

"I'll take care of it." The older man crouched before Lanzer and put his hands over the wound, "I have a forseeing gift. I knew about all of you."

"T..Than you know who he is?" Kaya asked fearing the man would throw Lanzer out if he found out who he was.

"I do know. But I also know that his heart is nowhere near as black as Satul's..."

Kaya looked down. "Y..you know about me?"

"Yes, child, I do..." The man replied, sorrow in his eyes, "Listen... you must all rescue your captured friend as soon as possible... If she is forced to join them..." He shuddered, "The outcome... will be the conversion of all of us that have remained free... and the victory of Satul's goal..."

"B..but how? Lanzer is badly injured, and Mastudo won't wake..and..and I am useless.."

The man stiffened, "Lanzer I can heal quickly... the other man will take some time I think... but, there's somebody dangerous nearby..." He frowned, "We need to get you all out of here, now." He pulled his hands away from Lanzer, having healed him.

Landing infront of the hut, Aedin said laughing, "I'm back."

"Hurry and leave, I'll hold him off!"

Lanzer opened his eyes in shock. "AVELLA?!"
Kaya quickly told him what happened as she steered him towards the back. She hoped Mastudo followed.

"Don't try to run" Aedin said effortlessly ripping the door off.

Kaya's face contorted in rage as she blasted him back with a scortching spell. His viens felt like they were on fire.
While he was in pain they slipped into the woods.

"Take the other man and follow them." He said to his young apprentice, who nodded and quickly followed.

"You will not get to them." The man said, brandishing a heavy wooden staff.

"please old man have you not realized i was after you..." Aedin said wrapping his wires around his staff and slicing it to splinters. "Now the fun begins" he added licking his fangs.

The man nodded, "I do know." he muttered darkly, throwing the broken pieces of his staff to the ground and taking up a hand-to-hand fighting stance.

Standing behind the old man, Aedin said laughing sadistically, "Oh so you want hand to hand" before he drove his claws deeply into the his back.

No you won't Lanzer... Aedin said smiling tormenting the old man.

The man gasped in pain, he stumbled forward, forcing himself away from Aedin, and lunged, striking him with his fist.

Dodging the old mans fist easily, Aedin said smiling, "don't worry old man i won't kill you i will have some....fun first......" before slashing the tendons in his arm with his claws making it useless.

The man placed his palm over the useless arm and it began to glow, closing the wound slowly.

"Too slow" Aedin said slashing the same arm right at the shoulder and then the other as well. "Have you not realized you can't win this fight."

"That isn't going to stop me from fighting." The man replied, panting now.

"I like you old man this is going to be fun" Aedin said slashing the tendons in one of his legs now.

He stumbled and just barely kept from falling over. The old man moved as quickly as he could towards Aedin, he swung his upper torso to the side, causing his arms to rise level with Aedin's head and swing straight towards him.

Laughing at the old mand attempts to fight him, Aedin said, "you can barely stand yet you still try to hit me" before slashing the tendons in his last leg.

The man fell heavily to his knees in pain, yet still he moved forward, he knew that eventually he would lose, but he didn't plan on just giving up.

smiling at the old man now crawling, Aedin said, "Now before you die i am going to borrow your powers for a little while..."

"No..." The old man said in horror.

"Now if you will cooperate once i bite you, i will be able to use all of your powers as if they were my own" Aedin said leaning down biting his throat lets see what you are hiding old man

"No!" The old man struggled to pull away.

don't bother to struggle....now lets see Avella....hrm...this is interesting... Aedin wondered while still within the old mans mind.

He felt himself growing weak, and his struggles were becoming less and less frantic.

Satul are you getting all of this Aedin said still ripping apart the mans mind looking for anything else interesting.

I am. Satul replied, satisfaction in his tone.

should i bring the old man back with me or just kill him now... Aedin asked with malace in his eyes.

He is useless now, kill him. Satul responded.

very well Aedin said ripping out the mans throat as he pulled away, was that proof enough of Lanzers betrayal....

The man gurgled, and in his final breaths, he spoke, "The visions you sent... of Lanzer... became images that... weren't Lanzer, a last parting gift..." Blood welled up to his lips and his eyes dimmed.

"well old man he just heard that as well i haven't severed the connection yet whatever i see he see's whatever i hear he hears, well do you believe me now....

Do I believe what? Satul sounded agitated.

Nothing.... Aedin said agitated as well because he still didn't believe him. I'm coming back now.... he b added leaving the hut and walking back to base.

---

Kaya lead the way swiftly through the woods. Lanzer still was weak, but his rage and sense of helplessness kept him going. I will free you Avella..I swear it!

Kaya looked to the old man's companion. "Is there a safe place for us to stay, so we can plan?"

"There is a cave near here that shields one from magic and being noticed... Only I know of it." The young man said, "Please, follow me."

*Follows quickly* "What about your master?"

"He has forseen this event..." The man said sadly, "He will not live through the night."

"We need to go back and save him than!"

"We cannot..." The man shook his head, "Or your mission will have failed."

Kaya looked back but followed him feeling miserable.

Lanzer said nothing as he followed, his mind purely focused on Avella. He concentrated on building a link between Avella and himself, and sent her protective magic. He hoped his gift would be strong enough, but he kept the doubt away. He than infused the connection with all the love he had for Avella, pouring nearly all the energy he had into the protective barriers and power storage he placed around her. By the time he was finished, he collapses when they entered the cave.

The man set Mastudo down once they entered the cave and closed the barrier over it, he approached Lanzer with worry, "Are you okay?"

"I..I will be..I think.. just need to rest.." He muttered feeling bone weary.

"Yes, get some rest," The man nodded slowly.

---

Avella felt a strange warmth enter her heart. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and instantly she regretted it as she felt pain coursing through her very being.

"Well?" Atsuki's voice filtered over to her in agitation.

"She's suffered massive blood loss and extreme muscle and artery damage..." One of the doctors murmured nervously, "At this rate it'll be a miracle if she pulls through..."

Coming down to the infurmary, Aedin said smiling, she will make it her spirit is too strong to die so easily....

Avella closed her eyes, willing the constant throbbing of her head to go away without much success. Her limbs felt heavy and didn't much want to move.

Lanzer used the conncetion he had forged to comfort her. Avella? Can you hear me? Do not say anything outloud just..think back..can you find our connection?

She may not but i can.... Aedin responed instead smiling, I won't allow you to reach her you are not nearly strong enough to beat me at this game Lanzer..

"Las-lain... Avella had just barely heard him, she still kept up the charade, she wouldn't let Aedin find him... But she was just so glad to have heard his voice. I'm sorry...

Ah Avella your little friend 'laslain' might want to sever the connection before i trace it back to him your spell has broken on him now but don't worry i am the only one who knows...for now Aedin said laughing outside her room before walking in laughing.

A Shadowy Pheonix appeared above Avella. It's wings spread out around her in a shield. It was obvious that "Laslian's" magic had gotten stronger.
Lanzer gritted his teeth in anger. I am not Lanzer. I don't know who Lanzer is, let my wife go and I may let you live, refuse and I will bring down all the power I posses and all the energy I have upon your head!

Try and i will just rechannel it to her instead.... Aedin responed smiling standing by Atsuki now. your little game is over she has removed the spell on herself so i already know who you are as well so do not test me little boy

Please... protect yourself and the others... Avella murmured, I don't want you to get hurt anymore...

you had better listen to her..unless you want to die as well that is...... Aedin said letting out a slight chuckle as well. "Atsuki she is communicating with her little friends but i can't trace it back to them but they are planning on rescuing her we should prepare..."

"I am always prepared." Atsuki responded simply.

"I will stay here go inform Satul if you don't mind" Aedin said smiling at the others little conversation.

Atsuki shrugged and stood, "It was getting dull in here as it is." He muttered as he left the room.

thank you i am gathering information i will stay until she is put back in her cell or you come back.... Aedin said to Atsuki.

Avella gritted her teeth as the ache in her head grew. She didn't want, couldn't, cry out...

Aedin handed a small infusion bag of blood to the doctor saying, "here put a few drops of this on her wounds it is from a healer it will help...."I don't want you dying on us just yet if you are dead i can't kill your friends......

Lanzer got a sudden idea and waited tell the doctor did as he was told. suddenly the Pheonix inveloped Avella and she and the pheonix vanished.

Avella appeared in the cave and Lanzer completely colapsed. His breathing becoming ragged.

"H..he used to much energy!" Kaya said looking from Avella to Lanzer and than back.

nice try she will surely die now because the blood only helped she still needs infusions oh well i wanted to have some fun with you but i guess i will just have to wait Aedin said laughing walking out of the room, Atsuki, Satul a shadow took the girl before i could stop it....come quickly she is with her friends in a cave that blocks any outside magic do you know where it is....

Avella's breathing was shallow and her figure pale. Occasionally her eyes flickered open, but she would quickly close them again.

"What happened now?" Atsuki sighed, entering the room once more and looking around, "Geez, you let the take her?"

"She is going to die if we do not get her back quickly.. this just makes it funner" Aedin said laughing walking to the armory, "are you coming?" Satul! did you hear me...

I can here you... Satul muttered, The only cave I can think of is a few miles south of here...

"Let's go take a look then." Atsuki said.

"Ok then to the armory then the cave...." Aedin said laughing they just made this game a whole lot easier.... Satul you may want to come as well there are four of them all with gifts from what i could tell..... "Well let's head to the armory shall we" Aedin said walking out the door towards the armory.

I think... I will go... since the girl is so important to my victory. Satul agreed, I cannot have her dying on me...

We will meet at the armory then i suppose Aedin said smiling, "Satul is coming with us....this is even better" he said to Atsuki.

Satul was waiting for them when they arrived at the armory.

"Good to see you" Aedin said grabbing another set of his gloves and a short sword this time, "I want to be prepared" he added smiling quite sadistically. "You are the only one who knows where it is so you lead" He said to Satul.

"Keep up," Satul replied, setting out at a brisk pace.

"Don't worry about me its Atsuki that strides through everything" Aedin said laughing.

Satul's brisk pace neared them to within viewing distance of the cave in only an hour. He pointed silently, "There." He replied, "That is our goal."

"Ok" Aedin said putting his gloves on, "You know i go through a pair of these every mission" He added snickering again. "But does this cave have another exit?"

"No." Satul replied, "There is only one entrance and exit..."

"You go through so many because you're careless." Atsuki said with a shrug.

"Eh maybe but it is effective now shush they will be able to hear us from here" Aedin whispered.

Atsuki loosened his sword and gazed silently at the cave, "There are five life-forces in there," He said quietly, "Two of which are rather weak..."

Loosening his sword as well, Aedin said, One is Avella the other laslain...he is the one that took her....The other three are nothing only one of them seem to have any skill....

The plan itself is quite simple. Satul said to them both, Aedin, I want you to tear that cave apart with your wires. After we'll go in and subdue the others."

Very well Aedin said silently wrapping wires around as they walk through the cave anchoring some with kunai. But i want the girl..Kaya....he added licking his fangs getting ready to pull on his wires.

As you wish, so long as I have an opening to grab the other girl without hindrance. Satul said simply.

I'll take on the others then. Atsuki replied.

Ok now Aedin said pulling the wires and crumbling the cave behind.

---

Kaya looked at them worriedly. "Are there any living things in this cave?" She asked of their companion.

"There's just us..." The man murmured, making his way over to Avella, "She's got some terrible wounds..." He said, kneeling next to her.

"Do you have healing?" Kaya asked as she did what she could to heal Avella.

"I do not possess the gift..." The man said sadly.

"Something is-" Before the man could finish his sentence there was a great rumbling and the cave collapsed around them.

Kaya threw up a shield around all of them, trying not to let in to her fear.

Wriggling and twisting his wires around, Aedin turned the boulders falling around them to dust as they walked farther down the cave getting ready to attack.

"Not again.." Kaya whispered as she saw him.

Atsuki smirked when he saw the group, "Only two are conscious? How boring..."

"Not for me the one i want is her the one holding the barrier" Aedin said smiling showing her his fangs as they got closer.

Kaya's lips parted in a silent o of surprise, but she still mantained the barrier. She pulled energy and life from Atsuki and Sutal to heal Avella.

"Don't bother with that" Aedin said repelling her magic from them onto her and the other man quivering behind her.

She stopped that spell but maintained the barrier. Her healing had helped Avella a little, but she still needed healing. Kaya looked around and drew life from a large tree and transferrid it to Avella. Avella slowly began to heal. Kaya focused on the tree and it came crashing down towards Satul, Atsuki and Aedin.

Atsuki's sword glinted darkly, he seemed only to have taken two steps forward, but the tree burst into dozens of useless pieces, falling to the ground.

"You are my toy don't go after them" Aedin said collapsing her barrier with his wires combined with his own powers.

Kaya gritted her teeth and knocked him back with a wall of natural energy, she used to suround her and her companions. "I am no ones toy!"
Several of the trees in the area began to move and attack Kaya's enemies.

"Get the others i want to take my time with her" Aedin said slashing the tree's to splinters with his wires before appearing infront of her kicking her in the face.

Satul made his way calmly over to where Avella lay and lifted her off of the ground easily. She looked feverish and still incredibly pale...

Kaya dodged him and lashed out with her magic, the ground bgan to quick beneath Aedin.

"I'm going." Satul said, lifting Lanzer (still in his disguised form) as well, "I trust you both can handle the others."

"Sure she is weaker than Avella" Aedin said slashing her deeply from behind with his sword as the illusion infront dicipated from her spell.

"Don't play too rough, I want her alive." Satul warned, disappearing.

Awe you are no fun Aedin said disappearing form behind her licking the blood off of his blade.

Kaya panted looking to where her companions had been. "BRING THEM BACK!"

"You should worry about yourself" Aedin said gliding by slashing her with his claws.

Atsuki turned to the other man behind Kaya, his sword drawn. The man had drawn a sword of his own, and now he waited for Atsuki's attack.

Kaya stopped fighting, realizing two things, one they couldn't win this fight, and two Aedin had more pleasure out of a fight, and would have none if she went quietly. "Don't..it's what they want.." She whispered to her companion.

"He is going to die anyway he is of no use to us like his master i killed" Aedin said appearing on her other side diging his claws deeply, "and its not the fight its the blood i am after...."

"Don't forget what Satul said," Atsuki warned, approaching the man.

"I won't kill her just make her wish i did.." Aedin said beside him licking his claws, "she tastes so good..."

Atsuki shook his head with a sigh, parrying the sword-blow sent down by the other man, who knew he was at his end, though he was hoping to at least escape with his life.

Furious tears erupted in Kaya's eyes. She rushed foreword and teleported her companion. "There...you can't kill him now..Bastards."

pulling back a wire he had planted on him before they fought, Aedin said laughing sadistically, "need a hand" before throwing his catch aside waiting on the girl now to surrender.

A glow began to appear around Kaya.

"Oh so you want to die too then" Aedin said hitting her in the back of the head with the base of his sword.

Kaya collapsed to the ground with a groan.

Atsuki sheathed his sword, his quarry having disappeared.

"There is a hand left if you want to play with it" Aedin said laughing wildly.

"Oh yes, because I'd definately want to play with a hand," Atsuki replied sarcastically.

"Ok i have had my fun you can bring the girl back" Aedin said laughing still about the unfortunate man she teleported. "i'm bringing the hand for Satul" Aedin said still laughing while he walked out of the cave.

Atsuki rolled his eyes and grabbed the girl and the other unconscious man from the cave, he then sank into the shadows, getting back to the base quickly.

Walking into Satul's office, Aedin said still laughing slightly, "need a hand" before throwing the severed hand on his desk and walking out laughing histerically.

Lanzer slowly started to come to.

Satul glared at the hand, and it faded, falling from the shadows of a ceiling straight on top of Aedin's head, "No, but you will if you keep cracking jokes like that."

Avella groaned, turning slightly on the metal table that she had been lain on.

Sidestepping the hand, Aedin said, "Maybe but it was fun" turning around so he could see his blood splattered face.

Lanzer blinked setting up catiously as he felt pain and fatigue. He looked around blankly,not sure where he was or even who he was.

"Just throw the damn thing away." Satul muttered to Aedin.

"Did you bind the ones you brought so they couldn't use there gifts" Aedin said still laughing in his blood lust drivin state.

"Both are too weak to draw on their magic now as it is." Satul replied, "I am waiting until they've properly healed first.

Lanzer looks around the medical area curiously. hmmm.where am I? Who am I?..am I dead? "H..hello?"

"Ooh one is finally awake, i am going to have some fun" Aedin said dashing out of Satul's office dripping blood with every step toward him, i am coming for you Aedin said laughing wildly.

Avella looked over at him, her vision swimming, "W-why are you here?" She gasped out in surprise.

Lanzer frowned rubbing his sides to ease the hurt. "You know me? Umm..who am I?" She looks familiar..I wonder who she is

Avella sat up slowly, balancing herself against the table and then the wall she made her way over to him, "What's wrong, don't you remember me?" She asked in confusion.

Turning for the Infirmary, jumping down the stairs drenched in blood, Aedin screamed with his eyes glowing and fangs and claws beared, "I am here!"

Lanzer jumped and looked at Aedin, eyes going wide in shock. "W..what the hell?!" What is going on? The girl seems to know me...but that..monster? Am I in hell?

"You are now!" Aedin shouted jumping over the girl dripping blood all over her lunging for Lanzer.

Lanzer stumbled back in fear. He tripped over one of the tables anf fell to the floor. He picked up an object and threw it with all the strength he had, at Aedin. "What do you want?!"

Avella threw herself between Lanzer and Aedin protectively, "I won't let you hurt him!" She still felt really weak, but she would protect Lanzer...

"throwing the girl aside, Aedin shouted, "I want blood!"

Avella tackled him to the ground, "I won't let you hurt him!" She repeated angrily.

Grabbing her by her throat, digging his claws into the sides pinning her out of his way, Aedin shouted, "I Want LANZER" before pinning him to the ground snarling over him with a sadistic smile on his blood covered face.

Lanzer tried to struggle and get free. "Who is Lanzer?! Leave me alone! I don't know you!" He struggled against Aedin. He looked to Avella worriedly. "Leave the girl alone!"

"Shut up" Aedin said tightening his grip around Avella's neck so his claws peirced the arteries there, "now for you" he said leaning over biting his throat with his blood stained fangs.

Avella bit down into Aedin's hand as hard as she could to get him to loosen his grip on both her and Lanzer.

Just up the hallway was Atsuki, he sensed something amiss and was currently making his way to the ifermary.

The girl biting him made Aedin in turn tighten his grip on her throat further and bite down harder on Lanzers.

Lanzer gave out a gurgled gasp as he started to slip into unconciousness.

Atsuki entered the room, taking in the situation, and dragged Aedin off of the two, "Are you an idiot?" He growled, throwing him across the room.

Glaring up at Atsuki in his crazed state, Aedins eyes stopped glowing and he regained his senses, "what the hell is going on....."

Atsuki merely pointed at Avella and Lanzer.

"What the hell....the last thing i remember was fighting that girl......" Aedin said confusedly.

"Well, you've nearly lost us two gifted," Atsuki scowled, "You might want to get your hand looked at by the way."

"Looking at his hand and the bite mark, Aedin said, "don't worry about that it will heal in a few minutes....i'm more worried about what just happened. Satul is not going to like this....."

They don't notice the wound on Lanzer's neck as it begins to close.

"Well maybe this could be a good thing but if i don't turn him he will....die...." Aedin said biting his wrist and walking over to Lanzer.

Lanzer's breathing was extremely shallow.

"Should i turn him or let him die Atsuki..." Aedin said standing over Lanzer.

"Best to not let him die." Atsuki replied.

"Fine" Aedin said sighing turning his wrist dripping his blood in Lanzers mouth saying, "you might want to do something about her she is bleeding to death again...."

"It's your fault, you deal with it." Atsuki said, leaving the room.

Lanzer's hand shot up and wrapped around Aedin's pulling his wrist to his mouth. He soon bit down hard and began to drink greedily.

"ATSUKI I am preoccupied right now with this beast...i can't she will die...." Aedin said cringing in pain from Lanzer.

He began to bite deeper, trying to draw out more blood.

"Let go you don't even have Fangs yet that is just annoying" Aedin said pulling his arm away, "DOCTOR get in here now" Aedin shouted licking his wounds. "Bring a suture kit and a kit for a transfusion now..." he said walking away to tell Satul what happened. This is going to be fun..... he thought to himself sarcastically.

Avella felt her blood seeping across the floor, but she couldn't find the strength to move or speak. as darkness began to overcome her vision, quick footsteps approached her.

Lanzer slipped back into darkness, as he started to turn.

Several hours passed, and when next Avella's mind met with the conscious world, it was to find that her neck felt like it was on fire, she couldn't move or turn her head.

Lanzer's eyes blinked open and he slowly started to set up. He could taste a metallic taste and it took him only a moment to realize it was blood. Frowning he looked himself over for wounds. Slowly memories of the girl trying to protect him came back. He quickly looked around and rushed over to where she lay. "A..Are you all right?" He asked, his voice was slightly raspy. Maybe when she was protecting me, some of her blood fell into my mouth..

"You're awake," Avella said in relief, "And it doesn't look like you're hurt..." Her voice was raspy and low, it didn't want to work properly, but she gave a relieved smile nonetheless.

Lanzer sat down near her. "Who or what was that that attacked us? And..who am I?"

Avella sat up quickly- too quickly- in shock at Lanzer's words, and worrying that they were still in danger. She winced and collapsed dizzily again, "How can you not remember who you are?"

Lanzer gently steadied her, his mind in confusion. "I..just don't..who am I?"

"Y-your name is Lanzer... but... we've been disguising you as Laslain..." Avell as slowly, "To protect you..."

"Protect me? From that monster? Am I in hell like he said?"Lanzer asked in confusion.

"You're not in hell... though it's a possibility to become something akin to a hell..." Avella murmured.

"Than..where are we and what are we doing here? Do I know you? you seem familair..I can't remember anything.." Lanzer said holding his head.

"We were captured..." Avella said slowly, "And... you do know me... we're friends."

"Why..don't I remember..how do I know you?"

"I don't know why you don't remember... but we met the first time I was caught and dragged here when you helped me to escape..." Avella replied in worry.


"I don't remember..was I a prisoner too? And why are we prisoners any way?"

"You weren't a prisoner the first time around..." Avella replied, "But we were captured for our gifts..."

"Than..what was I? And what gifts?"

"You were working here... and you hold a gift over shadows..." Avella replied.

Lanzer shook his head. "Why would I work here, this place feels..wrong..painful. And what are you talking about "a gift over shadows?"

"Your older brother is the man who runs this place..." Avella said slowly, "And you're similar to me with your gift..." She lifted her hand slowly and turned it over, after a moment's concentration she formed a swirling mass of shadows in her palm.

Lanzer's eyes widened in wonder. "I..could do that? Wait..you said my brother runs this place? Why would he run such a foal place?"

"I don't know..." Avella shrugged, "to either of your questions... We didn't get far in your training... and I've never personally met your brother to ask..."

Lanzer held his head with a groan. "Where is he? How could I have such an..an.. evil! Brother?"

"I don't know..." Avella shook her head, "I really don't..."

"What does he look like?"

"He looks like you." Avella replied.

"M..me? He l..looks like me?"

"Yes." Avella said simply.

"I am going to find and confront him!" Lanzer said determinedly as he started to head for the door.

"Please don't go!" Avella called after him, struggling to climb to her feet.

He turned back in concern. "Why not? and you should rest and heal."

"Please... don't leave me here by myself..."

Lanzer hesitated torn between finding out more about his brother, and trying to helpthis girl who seemed to know him. "What if I'm not this..Lanzer?"

"What do you mean? You are the same man that has helped me and whom I care for..." Avella murmured.

Lanzer shook his head. "Care for? I..what if you have me confused? You said yourself there was an illusion, what if I am the one your friend looks like?"

Avella frowned, feeling uncertainty rising within her, "Why do you think that you are not Lanzer?"

"Because I don't remember a thing..not even you." He said shaking his head. "And I keep thinking..Pheonix..for some reason."

"Phoenix?" Avella asked.

"Yes..it's the only thing I can think of clearly..Black Phoenix.."

"Black phoenix..." Avella felt that she should know what he was talking about, but she couldn't think clearly.

"Yes..I think you have the wrong man.." She notices a Black phoenix on his neck.

Avella frowned softly in thought, "I... maybe you're right..." She said, turning her gaze to the ground.

---

"Satul we have....a slight problem" Aedin said walking into his study nervously.

"What kind of a problem?" Satul looked up from a large stack of papers to study Aedin.

"Well i haven't been....quite myself since we left the cave...and just a bit ago...I attacked the ones in the infirmary they will be fine but I bit one so i had to change him.....or he would have died from the poison....." Aedin said almost standing defensively.

Satul massaged his temples as though warding off a migraine, "I see..." He muttered.

"Well i didn't do it on perpose......" Aedin said sighing, "I didn't even remember coming here...i was fighting that girl and she tried to teleport her friend away so he wouldn't have been killed and i pulled a wire severing his hand and that's all i remember...."

"Would that be the self-same hand that you threw in here?" Satul questioned.

"I did what!?!" Aedin shouted in disbelief. "I may joke but i wouldn't go that far...."

"Oh but you did." Satul said simply.

"Well damn..." Aedin said stunned. "Well none the less the others are concious again and one is beginning to be able to use there powers we should do something soon....before they escape again..."

"I agree," Satul replied simply.

"Ok i will go immediately" Aedin said disapearing and reappeared infront of the infirmary again saying, "ok you two thats enough i'm not really in the mood to fight i will just kill you if you resist so come with me if you don't mind...."

Black Phoenix turned and looked at Aedin with a frown. "Come for more blood?"

Avella swayed slightly as she got to her feet, glaring at Aedin defiantly.

"Haha...no i have come to put you in new rooms" Aedin said smiling now you first he said pointing to Lanzer eyes glowing as if hypnotizing him, "follow me now...."

Looks done at one of the floor tiles, a smile on his lips. "No "master" I want to see this leader guy..Sutal, and I want to see him now."

"This is his wish you shall see him soon enough now come with me....." Aedin said glaring at him.

Dark Phoenix continued to smile. "No, bring him here. I want to see this Bastard who is ruining peoples lives. And I won't let you hurt the girl." His eyes glow as though made of dark flame. and he seems slightly more darker than before, a power seems to surround him.

"Moron i am not going to harm you or the girl for once...i belieive i have had my fill for a while now just come with me i do not feel like killing you tonight and i don't want to face Satul having done so he would be furious...."

Black Phoenix inspects his hands carefully. "You see, you can't threaten to kill us if you know you can't carry through with the threat. Now I have a riddle for you. What is heartless, may be fast, and can fly through a wall at the speed of a horse?"

"I don't really care now just come with me please, i have told you i am not in the mood for this" Aedin said now standing behind him with one nail rubbing down his spine, "just because i don't want to doesn't mean i can't for your information....."

"Leave him alone!" Avella reached behind her, pulling something off the small table beside where she'd been laying and threw it at Aedin.

At the same time Black Phoenix burst into black flames, burning Aedin badly. He reformed behind Aedin and threw him threw the wall. "There is your answer."

"Does nobody unnderstand that i didn't come here to hurt you..." Aedin said behind him lightly scratching him to let him know he was there while the illusions he left dicipated, "now if it is this important to you i will take you to see satul i am not in the mood for a fight...."

Dark Phoenix laughed. "I told you, bring him here."

"You are not the one giving the orders if you fight i do have the authority to kill you..." Aedin said sighing, Atsuki you are needed in the infirmary they are testing my patience and i dont want to kill them....

I'm busy. Atsuki replied.

"What's the difference if we are going to see him any way, why can't he come here? Besides. did you know your breath stinks?" Black Phoenix said as he vanished and appeared protectively in front of Avella. His shadow resembled a phoenix, not a humans and it rippled as though made of flame. His eyes danced mischievously. "Bring him here."

This one is going to be trouble i'm not sure if i can kill him without risking my life as well get down here now Aedin said laughing again, "so you think that you can stand up to me do you" Aedin said disappearing from site and reappearing with dozens of illusions with him all throwing real kunai while he stayed hidden drawing his sword.

Dark Phoenix smiled and the weapons flew back at Aedin. Black wings burst from his back and covered Avella and himself in an Impenetrable shield.

The Kunai bounced around wildly as they destroyed Aedin's illusions. "You are stronger than you look but everything has a weakness and i am guessing yours is your mind...." he added bombbarding dark phoenix's mind with his own fears along with Avella's and all of there friends tearing his mind apart slowly.ATSUKI i need your help

Avella left the protection that Dark Phoenix's wings had provided her and, with a scalple in hand, she tackled the rea Aedin to the ground, pressing the blade to his throat in anger.

"Thank you" Aedin said as the illusion she tackled disipated and he took the scalpel, "i was almost out of weapons too....now make your friend back down because if you are doing this you must think he can't beat me......"

Avella growled and moved towards him again, "On the contrary, I think he has every chance of beating you." She glowered.

"Fine then i won't take the risk" Aedin said grabbing Avella adn disappearing. Walking into Satuls office with the scalpel to the girls throat, Aedin said sighing, "they are fighting me and the other is as strong as me...Atsuki said he was too busy to help me subdue them both so i brought the important one here so..nothing happened again...."

"They never give up..." Satul shook his head, "How annoying.

"Let go." Avella said coldly.

"I know now will you summon Atsuki so he can assist me with the other...do you want him subdued or annihilated" Aedin asked throwing the girl to him.

Satul caught Avella easily, Atsuki...

Sir? He said blankly.

Aedin needs your help.

Fine, I'm on my way.

---

Dark Phoenix looked around in fury. Why the hell do she do that? I have no fears, you need memories for that ands I have non..I suppose I will need to save her. He started to vanish but than noticed Kaya and Mastudo. Hmm they look familiar too.. He quickly walked over to them and healed them. He than teleported them and erased their trail. Now for the girl He vanished following her life force.

---

"Let go!" Avella struggled against Satul's grasp. He held on firmly until her wings shattered his hold and she rolled several feet away, pantning heavily.

Dark Pheonix appeared behind Sutal and slammed him against the wall. "Leave her alone."

Satul pushed Dark Phoenix off of him easily, "I would think that you're the troublesome one?"

"Ah so he came to me" Aedin said with his eyes glowing and laughing sadistically again pulling out his gloves with the wires on them and putting them on. Atsuki he is attacking Satul...we are in his study

"I'm already here," Atsuki replied, approaching from a darkened corner of the room.

"Great now the fun begins" Aedin said loosing his wires around Satul's study. someone needs to get the girl out of here who should it be....maybe Villen he can keep control of her in this state can't he.....

Mastudo stealthly approaches Avella with his mental art that he has spent years perfecting. Sheesh women are nothing but trouble I swear. Mastudo places a hand over Avella's mouth and whispers, "Try not to scream please. These guys seem to be one of the top crop. I realize you are in a spot but just try to trust me."

Avella stiffened before she recognized the voice, and slowly she nodded.

Mastudo gently worked through the chains but then he sees a familiar female in the shadows and sees a smirk. He faulters a little at the face. So she is here.

Moira walks over to some spot and hits her brother. "So you have come back. What have you grown a soft spot for the girl?" She acts a little unusual by placing Avella relatively close to an exit. "Can I go on vaction now?"

Mastudo chuckles and stands up. "You are really predictable Moira. Sure and get the hell out of my sight."

Dark Pheonix looked at Sutal curiously. "You're the one who takes the gifted and converts them aren't you?" He's illusion spell Avella placed on him slowly began to fade, but rather than black hair his hair was now silver, and his eyes had a firey red tint to them.

"I am." Satul replied simply, taking in his appearance without so much as a twitch of surprise.

"And who am I? That girl said I am Lanzer, and you are evil." Dark Phoenix said his voice sounding deadly.

"Lanzer?" Satul's eyes grew wide in surprise, "My brother? Nay... you look nothing like him... and yet, your aura is so very similar..." He turned his gaze to Avella, "No, I am not the evil one-" Here he pointed towards Avella, "She is a manipulative little bitch that tricked you into betraying me..."

Dark Phoenix looked between the two, feeling uncertain. Who the hell am I? Who is telling the truth..they had her in the infirmary not a cell..than again there was that man that has a lust for blood.. "Who am I than? And if what you say is truth than why do you have that monster of a man who lusts for blood working for you?" He asked pointing towards Aedin.

"He, I hired specially for capturing her," Satul pointed at Avella, "Because she's killed so many of my soldiers and friends..."

Dark Phoenix looked uncertainly at Avella, than turned back to his brother. "Who am I than?"

"You and I work as partners." Satul said.

"And my name? My history? She said she knew me.." Dark Pheonix demanded as he held his head, trying to remember.

"I can give you photos, journals, even your old childhood bedroom." Satul said, "You are my brother, we are twins."

"You said I look nothing like him.."

"I said you looked alike..." Avella said quietly, horrified at what Satul was telling Lanzer.

Dark Phoenix trembled feeling utterly confused. Who is telling the truth? "How do I know I can trust you? One of your men attacked me when I first woke up."

"I've explained that he isn't mine persay... And apparently the boy went into a bloodlust." Satul answered honestly.

"That still doesn't answer my question...how do I know I can trust you?"

"I am your brother... we've always been close." Satul replied.

Dark Phoenix held his head in his hads covering his face. "I..I don't know anymore..I just don't know.." He whispered.

"It will all become clear over time," Satul replied.

"She seems so..nice..and familair though.." Phoenix said looking at Avella, trying to decide if she told the truth.

"A guise donned by most women wanting something of us," Satul said evenly.

"W..What does she want from me?" Phoenix asked, still looking at her.

"She wants you to betray me..." Satul responded, glaring at the girl.

"B..But what would she gain from that? She said....she carred for me." Loos a little more like Lanzer for only a split second.

"What would she gain? Everything... she'd have everything to gain from taking you away from me."

"How? Your friend seems to think I am fairly weak.."

"He is too cocky for his own good," Satul responded, "I care for you... always have and always will."

Phoenix looked down his gaurd slipping away. He seems to be telling the truth..and he hasn't attacked His resolve began to dissipate as though he was starting to believe his brother.

"No..." Avella moaned, "He believed Satul..."

"Come now brother..." Satul murmured, "Lets return the prisoners to their cells now, shall we?"

"Prisoners?" Phoenix asked.

"Yes." Satul nodded, pointing at Avella, "She is vital to our victory... so make sure that at the very least she doesn't die."

Dark Phoenix nodded and pulled her to her feet. "Where are the cells?"

"Down on the second level." Satul replied.

"After I have secured her..you will help me regain my memories..won't you?" Dark Phoenix asked hopefully. He kept a firm grip on Avella's arms.

"I will do everything within my power." Satul nodded, "To help you remember.

Dark Phoenix nodded and dragged Avella to the cells. He said nothing to her, not wanting her to trick him like she had before.

Avella was mortified by his reaction and she squirmed in his tight grasp.

Moira looks like she does not care but actually she does. She glances at her brother who was smirking and dodges his punch. This girl Avella seems like she has been through a lot...maybe more than me. Hmm...Perhaps I need to investigate.

Matsudo glares at his sister and turns his back on her. “I would not talk to that girl if I were you.”

Moira throws her hands up in the air and glares while shouting, “EXCUSE ME BUT WHO HAS BEEN ABSENT FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO! I AM CAPABLE OF MAKING MY OWN CHOICES THANK YOU BROTHER!” She storms past her brother and goes to the cells.

---

_
Dark Phoenix Made sure Avella was secured tightly in her cell. Than he locked the cell and infused the bars with his magic, making it difficult for her to use her gift. He than pulled up a chair and kept guard. His thoughts swam with questions he wanted answered.

Avella remained motionless where she was, her gaze settled on the door. A frown touched to her lips, but she didn't speak. Satul... She thought to herself, I'm going to kill that man...

Dark Phoenix rubbed his temples, feeling confused, he still couldn't help but feel that the girl spoke at least partial truth..and he still felt an attraction and desire to protect her. Did she bewitch me? Sutal said she was trying to turn me against him..could that be true? He continued to rub his temples feeling a slight headach from all his mixed emotions and thoughts.

"Sir?" A young man in medical garb stopped before Dark Phoenix, a small box tucked under his arm, "Are you all right?"

Dark Phoenix nodded and looked the man over. "Yes..just thinking, what do you need?"

"I need into the prisoner's cell." The man replied, "I was ordered to change her bandages..."

Dark Phoenix unlocked the cell and followed the man closely. He kept a careful eye out for any tricks.

Even when the door opened and Dark Phoenix and another man entered the room Avella remained still, she didn't try to escape, but nor did she try and make things any easier on the man who settled to cutting away her bandages and re-wrapping wounds that still bled slightly past thick stitches.

Dark Phoenix pinned her arms and his shadows seeped into her flesh, numbing her and making her movements slow.

Avella merely closed her eyes, silent. There's no point in fighting if I'm alone anymore... She thought to herself.

"Are you finished?" Phoenix asked the doctor.

"Just about," He replied, moving now to check her vital signs, "I've just gotta make sure she's healing up..."

Dark Phoenix still watched carefully. "Do you know anything about me?" He asked the doctor hoping to get a little more of his memories back.

"Well... your appearance has changed quite a bit... but you are indeed Satul's twin brother..." The man said quietly, checking Avella's temperature.

"But what exactly does that mean? I have heard them say it..but who am I?"

"Not even I can answer that for you..." The man replied, pulling back the thermometer, "Low fever... shouldn't be too troublesome to deal with..." He murmured to himself.

Dark Phoenix sighed and watched him. I wish someone could answer that question..

As the man drew out a small needle and swabbed at a place on Avella's arm, a flicker of power shifted over her still form.

Dark Phoenix frowned, thinking he may habve imagined it.

"She ought to sleep for a while after this," The man commented, sliding the needle into Avella's vein and injecting her with the needle's substance. "But afterwards she should be ready."

"The sooner the better, than I can get my memories." Dark Phoenix said watching them carefully.

"Yes... it would be nice for you to get your memories back..." The doctor nodded, starting to put his things away.

He was suddenly flung away by a vast outpouring of shadowy power from Avella's form.

Dark Phoenix's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "H..how the hell?" He started to sink to the floor, his energy seeping into the shadowy form as it started to take the form of a phoenix.
"S..Sutal.." Dark Phoenix whispered as his energy started to leave him at an alarming rate.

Satul heard his brother's call... or more rather felt his brothers words upon his soul and rushed immediately from his office, moving towards the cells where he knew that his brother still was.

The energy around Avella's body molded into the form of a black phoenix, though it occasionally shifted to a simple mass of power that poured out of her in waves. Her mind was fuzzy, and she distantly felt her body standing of its own accord.

Dark Phoenix' mind went blank as he completely colapsed and slipped into darkness. Wounds appeared on his flesh and the Form around Avella strengthened.

Satul entered the room and assessed the situation. His brother lay, seemingly unconscious on the floor, wounds opening on his flesh. And then he took in Avella's figure, and realized what must certainly have occurred, "You fool..." He whispered to himself, biting his lip. Giving her a protective spell like that... must have been before you lost your memory...

Avella moved forward slowly, her gaze held steadily upon Satul whom had entered.

Energy slowly began to seep from Sutal, as he shared blood with his twin, and slowly Sutal began to feel weaker.

"What the-" Satul cursed, Aedin, Atsuki, get in here! There's a problem that needs taken care of.

Moira just walked toward Avella and gave her what looks like a seditive but it actually helps restore at least some phyiscal aspects. She whispers, "Don't give up because if you believe then you will have a way to over come." With that Moira walks over to Satul and helped him with his mental message.

Avella's mind didn't register Moira's words, instead she continued to slowly moved towards Satul, the footprints she left behind cracked the stone flooring and were growing slightly deeper by the time Atsuki entered.

Moira taps her foot. "Its about time you got here. Have any idea where that overly confident Aedin is located?"

"Do I need to worry over that brat like a mother hen?" Atsuki retorted, "What happened here?" He jerked his head towards Avella and the shadowy substance thrashing about her form.

Moira is not sure how to approach this issue. "Well lets just say brother against brother feud and now master Satul is in bad shape." Moira hears her brothers footsteps and can just feel the smugness on his face.

Mastudo shakes his head. "Honestly sister can you do anything rght?"

Coming behind Atsuki, Aedin said laughing, "she is fighting again, and Lanzer..or Phoenix as he calls himself now is back. Do you need assistance though that's why i came.....And to talk to Lanzer..."

Moira snorts at his offer. "I am not the one in need of help its our master that is. Oh and Aedin it would be in your best interest to try not to flaunt your knowledge too much." Moira deals with Avella.

Mastudo looks at Atsuki and Aedin. "So anyone would like to brief me on the latest developments?"

You were the one in the cave with them under cover i assume Aedin said smiling to Matsudo, "Avella is trying to fight off Lanzer and Satul.....This should be interesting."

Mastudo nods and ignores the jab,suddenly closes his eyes as he zeros in on her weakness.

Moira instictively knows what her brother is doing. She is still mad at her egotistic and stubborn brother so she directs his connection only slightly.

Don't bother Mastudo, he will handle her and if not i will.... Aedin said letting out a dark laugh.

Atsuki drew out his sword, twirling it in the air several times before aiming it at Avella.

Mastudo glares at him. I WAS ONLY ZEROING IN ON HER WEAKNESS! She is not mine to deal with I have only gathered a bit of information.

Moira gets cut by Atsuki's attack. Moira notices something all this time she has worked here there has been no companionship between her and the men. They don't really reguard me as another gifted person.

"Stay out of the way," Atsuki muttered to Moira, "And stay back from the girl now... those shadows are more deadly than flame."

"Well fine then Mastudo well do as you wish but that girl is far to powerful for most..." Aedin said smiling drawing his blade, Atsuki, a combined attack he said concentrating his power to his sword.

Mastudo shakes his head. "I got that point when I happened to find her. However she also feels a lot too for her comrads."

Moira feels something snap as the realization that no one has ever truly cared. She actually lets the shadows surround her. It doesn't really matter. They will find a replacement.

"Damn that girl is going to get herself killed" Aedin shouted sighing because of what he was about to do. Loosing his wires, Aedin looped the girl that Avella was attacking and quickly yanked her up catching her and setting her by Mastudo, "What the hell is your problem Miora!?!"

Moira looks at him confused. "um...can't really answer that question at the moment." Moira has been really confused for months now. None of these men ever say a word to her and now this hot shot bothered to save her.

Mastudo just shurgs it off. "She has always been a basket case."

"Stay with Mastudo" Aedin hissed, "Now Atsuki shall we" he added once again preparing for an attack.

Mastudo basically gives her a cold shoulder.

Moira looks at Aedin in curiosity."I don't get any of you males."

You don't get us do you Aedin replied to her silently, well i saved you because no more blood than necisarry will be spilled tonight and plus i would have killed you if i went to attack where you were....he added laughing a little as his eyes starred at her like he was peering into her very soul.

Moira does not look back. Look my soul is not anything to be poking around in all right. Just because you are a hot shot does not mean you can go poking around in a girls soul. Besides I am sure you have charmed plenty of other ladies. Moira smacks her brother and leaves him hanging on a spear head.


Mastudo easily jumps down. "You are too confident Moira and you are also weak too. Your mediocre ability has only trumped me for a certain amount of time."

"If you'd all stop bickering and pay attention to what's going on here and now we could all go back to our lives again." Atsuki said coldly.

Moira says nothing more and Mastudo just leans against the wall.

"The only reason i haven't done anything yet is because I have been waiting on a reply from you" Aedin hissed at him glaring. And as for you Mastudo, there is strengh in that girl that you just cannot see don't call her weak to make your self feel better...

Avella lifted her arms slowly, almost hypnotically, and energy rolled towards the focal point, some of it becoming long and slender, before solidifying, becoming a deadly sword.

"Let's go then." Atsuki said as Avella began to move quicker. Their blades met, and he quickly leapt backwards as the shadowy flames attempted to lick at his flesh, "She's not even conscious..." He said in disbelief.

"I could have told you that" Aedin said as he wavered off her shadows and swung his sword sending a powerful wave of psychic energy directly at her, Its basically like me when i go into my blood lust trance....

Avella's sword lifted itself, and with it came a wave of shadows that broke through his own energy, directing it back at him.

"this is unbelievable" Aedin said as he disappeared therange of the blast and reappeared right beside Atsuki. I am going to have to get rough obliviously and you are as well if we plan to walk out of here.....

"Yes... I know." Atsuki said with a frown.

Moira played an interesting melody on their families flute to try to lower the intensity. She knows it can't really do much but she can hope it evens the odds.

Mastudo tries to smack the flute out of her hands but she dodges him. "ARE YOU BLIND MOIRA OUR FLUTE WON'T HELP ANYTHING!"

"We will have to move her outside if this fight is to continue, this base will not withstand both of us at full strengh" Aedin said sighing trying to find a hint of her within this emmpty vessel, If we can awaken her, she will not be this strong anymore...

Moira approaches Avella. Are we really the same kind of women searching for something other than oppression. "Avella wake up...you are not really harmful. You have friends here."

"She's not going to awaken so easily..." Atsuki said, stooping down and lifting a needle, "She was sedated..."

Avella attacked again, her movements becoming faster, almost a blur, and Atsuki raised his sword to parry the blows once more.

"Damn what were they thinking doing that" Aedin said jumping aside pulling Miora away once again with his wires while at the same time throwing Avella back with his powers. If we leave do you think she will follow....

"She might..." Atsuki shrugged.

The doctor, who was just coming too, groaned and sat up slowly.

Moira looks at them and has a crazy idea. "Guys we need someone she knows here. Maybe that would get her to snap to. Seriously why do you two lug heads have to get into the heat of battle I can take hits."

Satul leaned heavily against the far wall, "Just get her outside for now..." He said.

"Very well" Aedin replied setting Miora down beside Mastudo shouting, "Now stay there I can't keep protecting your ass. Now Atsuki do you think you could teleport the three of us outside...."

---

CLOSED

Abbatoir chapter4